CONVERT FEAR TO FUEL

I’m told that in martial arts if a person manages his stance and keeps his balance, he can beat his opponent by getting him off balance and using the opponent’s force, momentum and weight against him to bring him down and win the match. 

This made me think about the issues that we face in life that are in opposition to us, our dreams and our aspirations - but with the right attitude a negative situation can be converted to a positive outcome.

CONVERTING FEAR TO FUEL

When my husband died I was really scared; anything could happen, I thought.  My life had changed and the comfort of routine was replaced with the fear of the unknown.   Now I was the head of household with four children. It was frightening. I used that fear to fuel me as I moved into action and went back to school.  I was fully aware that I was using my fear as fuel.

The opponent was fear, too big for me to fight with my own strength; I steadied my stance with the Word of God. He will never leave me or forsake me (Heb 13:5b), I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:14). 

WINNING THE BATTLE

When fearful thoughts would rush in at me, I lower myself in a position of prayer believing that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all I can ask or think (Eph 3:20) and BAM, fear landed on the mat tripping and falling under it’s own weight.

Eventually I won that battle when I graduated and was rewarded with a good career.  During that time I came to understand and hope in what I call the conversion principle. 

THE CONVERSION PRINCIPLE

• Opposition can be converted to Opportunity
• Disappointment can be converted to Direction
• Failure can be converted to Future Victory
• Adversity can be converted to Advantage
• Worry can be converted to Worship

A good summary of the conversion principle would be: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).

Have you converted a negative situation into a positive?  Please share it with us in the comments below